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Seminar on News Media for Africa ends in China

Seminar on News Media for Africa ends in China

A seminar to expose media practitioners to how China is effectively using media convergence for development has ended with a call on the participants to embrace new media for easier access to information.

Media convergence refers to the merging of previously distinct media technologies and platforms through digitisation and computer networking.

The programme, dubbed ‘Seminar on News Media for African Countries and African Union' attracted 37 media practitioners from Africa and was held at the Zhejiang Normal University in China.

The seminar gave the participants an opportunity to have firsthand knowledge about how China is using both traditional and the new media to its advantage.

It was also for African countries to learn from the success story of the Chinese new media and how the media can survive in the wake of technological advancement and the emergence of smartphones.

Africa-China relationship

At the closing ceremony of the seminar, the Secretary of the Party Committee of College of Creative Culture and Communication under the Zhejiang Normal University,

Mr Liu Xiumin, said through the interactions with the participants, the organisers had also gained knowledge and understanding of the media in the various African countries.

He expressed the hope that the seminar would strengthen the cooperation between China and Africa in order to jointly promote the development of the media in both countries.

The Director of the Office of International Communication and Cooperation Department at the university, Ms Xu Lihua, was of the belief that the participants had had a better understanding of the Chinese media, political, social and economic development through the lectures.

She tasked the participants to use the knowledge they had acquired at the seminar to better promote media convergence and also tell the Chinese success story in their countries.

Reading a speech on behalf of the participants, Ms Laura Harivola Rakotonandrasana said: “We have received a programme that has further built our knowledge in journalism, communication, skills development as well as discovering the rich cultural heritage of the Chinese people.”

Cultural experiences in China

During the 21-day trip in China, the journalists had the opportunity to visit places such as the Communication University of China in Beijing, the Communication University of Zeijiang in Hanghzou, some local Chinese television stations, the Great Wall of China, West Lake and museums,

They also practiced Tai Chi, an effective Chinese exercise for the health of the mind and the body, learned how to prepare dumplings, one of the delicacies of the Chinese, and practiced calligraphy.

The seminar was sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and was organised by the Zeijiang Normal University at Jinhua, China.

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